Registration is now open for The SVS’s Vascular Research Initiatives Conference (VRIC) 2019. VRIC will be held this year on May 13 in Boston, Mass., the day before the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Vascular Discoveries meeting (previously known as ATVB meeting).
In Memoriam Robert M. Blumenberg, 84, Dec. 2, 2018. Dr. Blumenberg treated combat casualties during the Vietnam War. During his surgical career, he was president of the Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, authored numerous clinical papers and wrote “Scalpel!: Memoirs of a Surgeon.”
From how to deal with type II endoleaks to what you wish you’d known about vascular surgery during med school, SVS members are chiming in online, on SVSConnect.
As I reflect upon the past year, 2018 has certainly made a mark for addressing burnout among medical professionals, enforcing wellness, and targeting implicit and explicit gender bias in medicine and surgery.
A new Quality Council. A new Appropriateness Committee. Task forces exploring workforce shortages in vascular surgery, burnout and wellness, and a vascular center verification program for inpatient and outpatient settings.
On Nov. 1, 2018, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) final rule.
This year’s Vascular Annual Meeting will have a new and elegant air about it, with the introduction of a Gala to benefit the SVS Foundation. It is replacing the traditional President’s Reception, at the request of SVS President Michel S. Makaroun. Dr.
Medical school and rigorous surgical training traditionally do not include advanced instruction in leadership skills, yet they are integral to achieving career success.
I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Cynthia Shortell, Professor and Chief of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, and Chief of Staff of the Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
“The Truth About Leadership,” by Barry Posner and James M. Kouzes, describes 10 critical “truths” about leadership. In this latest column highlighting the evidence-based behaviors and attributes that define great leadership, we focus on “The Best Leaders are the Best Learners.”
For many years, vascular/thoracic surgeon Dr. Paul Brown has contributed to foundations for the societies to which he belongs and to other charitable organizations.
SVS actively advocates on behalf of SVS members on issues that affect vascular surgery practices. Sometimes this brings positive outcomes for vascular surgeons, such as last month, when devastating cuts in the pricing for the vascular ultrasound room were avoided.
The Society for Vascular Surgery is moving into the future, both literally and figuratively.
To coordinate quality issues throughout the Society for Vascular Surgery, the SVS has created a new standing council: the SVS Quality Council.
Education Front and Center at Vascular Annual Meeting
Sharks and giants are getting starring roles at the 2019 Vascular Annual Meeting. Both will be part of featured sessions at the meeting, set for June 12-15 near Washington, D.C.
The water cooler is about to open for conversation.
SVS’ new online water cooler, that is, SVSConnect. Our new online community is the place to be for collaboration, engagement and communication, not to mention enhanced services for our members.
Dr. Norman Rich decided his career path early in life, listening to the doctor who delivered him relay the horrors of the amputations of World War I. “‘Someday, blood vessels will be repaired,’ he told me,” said Dr. Rich of his early mentor, Dr. Otto Utzinger of Ray, Ariz.
The dynamic environment in which vascular surgeons are currently practicing has created abundant opportunities for physicians to move into administrative leadership positions across the spectrum of healthcare. An advanced business degree teaches a surgeon the “language” of health care business.
The SVS Foundation is releasing its second new patient information flier – on diabetes and vascular disease – just in time for National Diabetes Month in November.
The turkey has been reduced to sandwiches and a wishbone and the mashed potatoes are just a memory. And between the frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping promotions, you’ve put a dent in your holiday shopping.
Are you an active member or Distinguished Fellow? Let everyone know The SVS Executive Board has announced that all SVS Active Members in good standing will now be considered Fellows of the Society of Vascular Surgery™ (FSVS™).
The EHR and our troubled health care system, Part 1
BY MALACHI G. SHEAHAN III, MD MEDICAL EDITOR, VASCULAR SPECIALIST
In an effort to alter specific policies in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) CY 2019 Medicare Fee Schedule Proposed Rules, Society for Vascular Surgery leaders have submitted a 20-page comment letter with recommendations to CMS.
A letter from the SVS Foundation Chair
Because …
That’s the simple – yet multifaceted — theme for our SVS Foundation Annual Report (just released and available at vsweb.org/ SVSF_Annual_Report_ 2018) and for our annual Giving Campaign.
The deadline is March 1 for nominating a fellow SVS member for the society’s Lifetime Achievement Award or Medal for Innovation in Vascular Surgery, and for applications for the Distinguished Fellow Designation.
All will be recognized at the Vascular Annual Meeting in June.
Beyond the always popular scientific sessions detailing research and presented from the podium, the Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) also stages more than 25 other educational offerings, many to smaller audiences and with questions and answers encouraged.
With the expiration of the fourth edition of the Vascular Educational Self-Assessment Program (VESAP4) on July 31, owners have a bit more than six months to complete all modules and claim credits.
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is undertaking a new study to take an objective, qualitative and quantitative approach when assessing the importance and financial impact of vascular services to health systems.
Because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updates healthcare billing codes annually, vascular surgeons need to have updates as well.
Register today for the 2020 Vascular Research Initiatives Conference, to be held Monday, May 4, in Chicago.
BY JEFFREY SIRACUSE, MD
As a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Coding and Reimbursement Committee (two years), I have been able to attend both CPT and RUC meetings in conjunction with the American Medical Association (AMA).
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has two dedicated member-supported service organizations fulfilling very distinct needs: the SVS Foundation and the SVS Political Action Committee.
Attendees had a “spectacular” evening at the 2019 SVS Foundation Gala, and organizers urge all members attending the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) in June to keep that Friday evening clear for this year’s event.
The program for the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting is taking shape, from the educational programming to the more practical offerings under consideration for the new Practice Pavilion. (See story on page 12)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued its CY2020 final rules on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs (HOPPS).
A major “something new” – a Practice Pavilion – is coming to the Exhibit Hall at the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting.
It is the “giving” time of year. The SVS Foundation asks that your giving plans include the Foundation, to fund not only things – research awards, patient education fliers, community awareness projects – but also people.
The deadline is March 1 for nominating a fellow SVS member for the society’s Lifetime Achievement Award or Medal for Innovation in Vascular Surgery, and for applications for the Distinguished Fellow Designation.
All will be recognized at the Vascular Annual Meeting in June.
Beyond the always popular scientific sessions detailing research and presented from the podium, the Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) also stages more than 25 other educational offerings, many to smaller audiences and with questions and answers encouraged.
With the expiration of the fourth edition of the Vascular Educational Self-Assessment Program (VESAP4) on July 31, owners have a bit more than six months to complete all modules and claim credits.
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) is undertaking a new study to take an objective, qualitative and quantitative approach when assessing the importance and financial impact of vascular services to health systems.
Because the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updates healthcare billing codes annually, vascular surgeons need to have updates as well.
Register today for the 2020 Vascular Research Initiatives Conference, to be held Monday, May 4, in Chicago.
BY JEFFREY SIRACUSE, MD
As a member of the Society for Vascular Surgery’s Coding and Reimbursement Committee (two years), I have been able to attend both CPT and RUC meetings in conjunction with the American Medical Association (AMA).
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has two dedicated member-supported service organizations fulfilling very distinct needs: the SVS Foundation and the SVS Political Action Committee.
Attendees had a “spectacular” evening at the 2019 SVS Foundation Gala, and organizers urge all members attending the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting (VAM) in June to keep that Friday evening clear for this year’s event.
The program for the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting is taking shape, from the educational programming to the more practical offerings under consideration for the new Practice Pavilion. (See story on page 12)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued its CY2020 final rules on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems and Quality Reporting Programs (HOPPS).
A major “something new” – a Practice Pavilion – is coming to the Exhibit Hall at the 2020 Vascular Annual Meeting.
It is the “giving” time of year. The SVS Foundation asks that your giving plans include the Foundation, to fund not only things – research awards, patient education fliers, community awareness projects – but also people.